Neuroscience at Westminster

Neuroscience is the scientific study of normal and abnormal development, structure, and function of the nervous system. In addition, Neuroscience seeks to better understand the role of the nervous system in behavior.

The Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience offers a Bachelor of Science degree and will provide students with fundamental training in psychology, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, as well as broad exposure to neuroscience. Students will engage in research specific to the field, and will take an interdisciplinary senior seminar designed to demonstrate the integration of behavioral analysis across multiple levels. Elective requirements will allow some degree of flexibility and specialization, while the careful addition of related minors will allow students, if they so desire, to add additional depth in their area of specialization. Undergraduate research is prominent, and students are encouraged to explore relations between brain and behavior across multiple levels. The curriculum provides students with an academic and experiential background for graduate study in the neurosciences and/or employment in a research setting. The program is designed to offer both breadth of background while allowing a degree of specialization.

Students desiring further specialization are encouraged to pursue a relevant minor in combination with the major. For example, students interested in Theoretical Neuroscience may choose a minor in Mathematics, Physics, or Computer Science. Students interested in Clinical Neuropsychology are encouraged to pursue a minor in Psychology. Consultation with program advisors is crucial in preparing the best pathway for the individual students. Students choosing a double major or minor within the science program or psychology may not apply electives to more than one major or minor. Only classes listed as required classes for both majors/minors may be applied to both.